It’s been asserted that wilderness designation for Scotchman’s Peak would restrict wildlife management. It’s my perspective as a retired regional supervisor that Fish and Game’s ability to manage wildlife would not be significantly impacted.

The core of wildlife management is monitoring big game herd status and controlling harvest to assure enough females remain in the herd. Herd status both in and outside wilderness is assessed from Mandatory Hunter Report information supplemented with aerial observations where visibility permits.

Biologists may have the need to capture animals for research or transplanting purposes. In remote areas that requires landing a helicopter, not ordinarily allowed in wilderness. The need could arise to capture and relocate problem goats on Scotchman’s Peak. A provision was put in the authorizing legislation for the Owyhee Wilderness that allows Fish and Game to continue historical helicopter capture operations of bighorn sheep. For other wilderness areas there is a process for federal wilderness managers to evaluate specific wildlife management needs and permit helicopter landings.

References to wildlife management have likely been references to timber harvest, which can be beneficial. But benefits are more than offset by increased access. Research has shown elk density to be inversely related to open road density. Research using satellite-collared elk showed that elk dispersed up to 2,000 yards when motorized vehicles came in proximity.

AL VAN VOOREN

Sandpoint